the impossible

me & JoDee 

As young kids we'd often speak {in awe} of the days and years ahead.  Dumbfounded by the thought that when JoDee turned 16, I'd be 14, Tyler 12, Mandi 10, Megs 8.  And the crazier thought that someday JoDee would actually turn 20.  And we'd follow at 18, 16, 14, and 12.  Unfathomable.

Well, the impossible is now firm reality and far in the past.  We've delved well beyond the big 2 - 0. 

Today JoDee is 35. 

Another unfathomable from my little years was mom's chide to be nice to each other because one day we would be the best of friends.  During my awkward, often-nerdy teenage years, as I looked jealously at my gorgeous sister (who really only looked at me when there was something to fight about), that seemed impossible. 

But - of course - mom was right.  There are few people I enjoy as much as my sisters.  And I think there is no one I laugh with louder or longer than JoDee.  She is truly hilarious.  We still can't sit together in a church meeting without making a scene with giggles. 

Other things I love about JoDee are that her home is a true haven.  She knows how to decorate and pull things together into a gathering spot where everyone feels comfortable.  She is similarly always put together - make-up, accessories, shoes, hair.  She loves her children.  Above her back door, the wall reads "A family that plays together stays together."  She and Shane definitely live by that philosophy, and spend lots of time playing with their cute littles.

A few sister memories: 

 
combing your hair, camping      flower girls at Dan & Nina's wedding
                                            do you remember mom braiding our hair to make it frizz?

JoDee's 8th birthday, I was 6, Tyler 4, Mandi, 2, Megs a baby

Happy 35, JoDee!  We love you!

and...

in honor of gas now being nearly $3 a gallon, a few tid-bits (found on Melissa's blog (happy birthday!)) about prices when you were a baby:

Bread: $0.25/loaf
Milk: $1.33/gal
Eggs:$1.20/doz
Car:$3,879
Gas:$0.36/gal
House:$30,500
Stamp:$0.08/ea
Avg Income:$12,625/yr
Min Wage: $1.60/hr

Um...that's plenty to make you feel old.  Crazy!  But, don't worry, I'll be 48 to your 50 some day.  And I imagine we'll still giggle through church.

Comments

[Megan]

Great post Amy, I think you win the award for best birthday post for JoDee today.
I love seeing the old pics, it's insane how much time has gone by. Freaks me out. And I totally remember always doing the math of who would be what age when we grew up, it seemed so unreal that I would ever be sixteen when JoDee was twenty-four, and now I'm 27 and she's turned thirty-five, just crazy.

[Kelly]

Happy Birthday JoDee! (I still wish she would start blogging again.) It was so fun to see all these cute old pictures of you guys.

[JoDee]

Thank you for the great birthday post. I love your words and you make me feel so important and loved. The pictures are classic, I need to get copies someday. And yes, I thought I was so cute with my hair crimpy! Those were the days.

[Rachel]

Amy,

I love your post! I love the picture of Dan & Nina's wedding. It is so strange to see so much of Cassi and Corey in Nina's face. Speaking of seeing chidren's faces in thier parents, WOW do you look like Davyn!

[Cyn]

Just remember, Mom is always right except when she gets senile. 35 years old! I never thought I would have a daughter that old. Oh and by the way, I actually bought things for those prices and it was still hard to make a dollar stretch.

[Nina]

Boy do those pictures bring back fond memories. Cannot believe Jo is 35 WOW!!!! Thanks Amy for making remember the good times of 30 years ago when I got married..... Happy Birthday JoDee!!!

[Shanon]

Love the post and you have to have a girl! Look how cute you are!!

[Mandi]

I too remember us figuring out the future ages and how we'd ohh and awh over how far away that was! Time goes fast. Yes, I agree too that my sisters are my best friends like mom always said. And I love all the old pictures - I couldn't even find any old ones of her. I suppose that's because all the ones mom gave me have us younger kids more than you and JoDee.

I also think that's crazy what Rachel said because I looked back and Dan looks 100% like Corey with a 70's outfit! Crazy!

Oh, and I agree with Megs that you get the prize for best JoDee post! Happy Birthday Jo!

[Lucy]

I remember having a friend who was the youngest of eight and she could never remember how older her oldest sisters were because they were about 20 years older than her. I always thought it was bizarre, but now, I can't even remember how old I am, much less my sisters. I so totally understand this post. When did all of this aging happen?

[jenny c.]

That photo at the top resembles your boys so much. What a great tribute. Happy Birthday JoDee!

[sista #2]

Cute post! Fun to see the dated pix ;)
When I was in YW in CA, we filled out a questionaire about ourselves to seal in a time capsule. I remember those kinds of ??- bread, milk, gas, etc. Crazy -No way are we 'old', if so, what does that make our parents? -
ancient? ha! ciao

[Annalisa]

Happy Birthday JoDee. I love asking kids how old adults are and when they think of the biggest number they can they tell you 8. Someday I'll be 50?!?! Oh please no, that really is impossible.

[carlo]

now that is a fun bday post! Happy Birthday, JoDee!